1997 Handover Regatta

Setting Sail On British Era

June 30, 1997|By Tara Gruzen, Special to the Internet Tribune.

Alex de Campi wouldn't voluntarily leave Hong Kong for anything in the world. The 25-year-old Philadelphia native absolutely loves it here. She's been in the city five years working at a stock brokerage and can't imagine a better life. At least that's how de Campi felt Monday morning when she rigged up her sailing boat and jumped on board to compete in the 1997 Handover Party Regatta. The race was the first event of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club's 24-hour party coinciding with the official handover ceremonies. "Whether you believe it's a wedding or a wake, it's a damn good party anyway," said de Campi. "This is probably the only time there will ever be a five-day holiday in Hong Kong."A total of 81 boats poured out into Victoria Harbor - despite the threat of rain - for the kickoff of the private extravaganza. Though the small boats are not required to fly flags, many put out both British and Chinese in the spirit of the event. Like many of the 3,900 members of the yacht club, de Campi spends as much time down at the harbor as possible. It is a great way to escape the madness of the city, the view over the water is spectacular, and the beer is cheap. "There is a regular crowd that is down here on the weekend and most Wednesday afternoons," said Simon Durrant, 32, another competitor and the publisher of an entertainment magazine in Hong Kong called "BC." It's just a great place to hang out And most members are pretty sure it will stay that way come July 1. the only real difference that we're going to see here in Hong Kong is that there is going to be a different flag over the government house, said de Campi. "Mainland China has so much money tied up in Hong Kong that they aren't going to want to lose it. Yet there has been a bit of recent controversy among the club's members over whether they should drop the word "Royal" from their name in honor of the changeover. The first time the issue went up for a vote, it was defeated by 10 percent. The second time it failed by only three votes. In the spirit of compromise, members decided to remove the crown from their logo and change the name in Cantonese, but not in English.

The yacht club's "One Party, Two Hangovers" includes not only the regatta and usual banquet, but bands on several stages, a fun fair for kids, cricket sites, a late afternoon tea party, and a 10 a.m. commodore's cruise. The club's membership is roughly half expatriate and half Chinese, just like the flair of the evening.